WEBVTT >> I WAS REALLY DISHEARTEN>> ADVOCATES FOR SEX ABUSEVICTIMS FOUGHT TO RAISE THMINIMUM MARRIAGE AGE HERE, BUTTHEY FACED RESISTANCE>> THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEI FEEL IT'S APPROPRIATE.>> REPUBLICAN STATE REP DAVIDBATES IS AMONG THOSE WHOLISTENED TO THE DEBATE AT THENEW HAMPSHIRE STATE HOUSE ANDFEEL THERE ARE STILL SPECIALCIRCUMSTANCES WHEN A GIRL ASYOUNG AND 13 AND A BOY AS YOUNGAS 14 SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALKDOWN THE AISLE.>> WHEN A YOUNG WOMAN ISPREGNANT AND WANTS TO RAISECHILD WITH FATHER OF THE CHILD>> TEENS DO NEED CONSENT FROMTHEIR PARENTS AND A JUDGE, BUTSOME WHO LIVE HERE CAN'T FATHOMWHEN THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE>> I KNOW PARENTS NEED TO SIGNOFF ON IT, BUT SOME PARENTS JUSTAREN'T THER>> I MEAN MARRIAGE, YOU HAVEYOUR WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF YOU,NEVERMIND COMMITTING TO A PERSONFOR YOUR WHOLE LIFE

Law allows minors as young as 13 to get married

Legislators kill bill that would have raised age to 18

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Updated: 10:57 PM EST Mar 9, 2017

CONCORD, N.H. —

A controversial bill that would have raised New Hampshire’s minimum marriage age to 18 years old was killed at the State House Thursday.

The debate revealed a little known fact that girls as young as 13, and boys as young as 14, can get married in the Granite state with parental and court consent.

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The minimum marriage age bill started as a project from a Girl Scout hoping to end minors getting married, but the law that dates back more than a century still stands.

The law on the books sets 18 years old as the age you can get married in New Hampshire, unless you get parental and court approval to be married at a younger age.

In 1907, the state set that bar at 13 years old for girls and 14 years old for boys.

The state says nearly 800 minors have been married since 1989, including a 13-year-old bride in 2013.

The circumstances of the court approval are not public.

The bill would have raised the minimum marriage age to 18.

The New Hampshire coalition against domestic and sexual violence said the state has the second youngest marriage age in the nation.

“This really seemed like a common sense measure to make sure children are protected and that they can't be coerced under the law by folks older than them,” Jessica Eskeland said. “A 13-year-old is a child and can't understand entering into the contract of marriage.”

Lawmakers who voted down the measure said they would be willing to raise the youngest allowable age, but did not pass the bill because there was no provision for anyone under 18 to get married. The lawmakers cited pregnant teenagers and 17-year-olds enlisting who want to extend military benefits to a spouse.

“There are circumstances where I believe it is appropriate, again, with the consent of parents and guardians and with the approval of the court, I believe there are circumstances where a minor should be able to get married,” Republican state representative David Bates said.